First published in the April 21 print issue of the Pasadena Outlook.
Pasadena Art Alliance, one of Los Angeles County’s oldest nonprofit organizations supporting contemporary visual arts and education, will host its biennial Art Auction on Saturday, May 7.
The event will be both in-person and online in order to enable more participation by art aficionados nationwide.
The auction will feature more than 90 works of contemporary art donated by some of Southern California’s most electrifying, established, and emerging artists. Participating artists are carefully selected by a PAA artist committee and the art work will be auctioned online as well as at the in-person event to be held at the Pasadena Masonic Temple.
Annaly Bennett, PAA President Pro Tem, described how PAA pivoted to incorporate technology in 2020.
“Our 2020 auction could not be held in person because of the pandemic, so we got creative and went 100% online. That year one of our highest bidders was from out of state and would not have attended the event had there been one,” Bennett explained.
The art auction in 2020 raised more than $300,000, a record amount.
“We realized that we could expand our audience, increase the exposure to our contributing artists, and ultimately raise more funds for our deserving grant and impact award recipients by creating this hybrid event,” added Mary Urquhart, 2022 art auction co-chair.
All money raised through the auction will help to finance the PAA programs that fund projects for art organizations and art education in the greater Los Angeles County community.
Participants may register for the auction beginning April 23 at events.handbid.com/auctions/pasadena-art-alliance-2022. Bidding via Handbid will open at 10 a.m. on May 1 and will close at 9 p.m. on May 7.
Established in 1955, Pasadena Art Alliance fosters appreciation for contemporary visual arts in Southern California by supporting artists, exhibitions, educational programs and art-oriented, non-profit institutions. Funds raised through an annual benefit and other events provide funding for the annual grants and awards presented to deserving nonprofit arts institutions.
For more information, visit pasadenaartalliance.org.
